The chance of having identical twins is quite rare, around three to four births per thousand. Even more unusual is the situation faced by Savannah Combs, a 23-year-old from Middleburg, Florida, who discovered she was expecting twins, only to find out later that both were born with Down syndrome. While the news was emotional for Savannah and her husband, Justin Ackerman, it also made their daughters feel even more special to them. “It’s very rare, but they’ve become my little gems,” Savannah shared with News4JAX.
During her pregnancy, Savannah documented her journey on TikTok, quickly gaining a large following and support in her community. In one of her emotional videos, she revealed that doctors advised her to consider an abortion, warning that the twins might not survive. But Savannah remained steadfast in her decision to carry them, viewing every prenatal visit where they were still alive as a blessing. At the time, her husband was away at boot camp when she was hospitalized at 29 weeks pregnant. On May 12, 2021, Savannah gave birth to her identical twin girls, Kennadi Rue and McKenly Ackerman, two months premature.
Because the girls were born prematurely, they spent several weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit before finally being able to go home. Savannah explained that the twins were classified as “mono-di,” meaning they each had their own amniotic sac but shared a placenta, confirming they were identical. This situation alone is rare, and when combined with the fact that both babies have Down syndrome, the odds were estimated at around one in two million. Despite their condition, Savannah insists that her daughters are like any other children and are determined spirits.
Savannah regularly shares updates about her daughters’ milestones on TikTok, showing how they continue to grow, learn, and bring joy to those around them. “They have feelings, they have a heartbeat, they know how to talk, and they will get there,” she said proudly. Even though they may be a step behind in reaching certain milestones, Savannah has learned to admire their resilience, describing them as happy little fighters who light up her life.
Unfortunately, not all responses have been kind. Savannah has faced criticism and insensitive comments from strangers online. One person cruelly commented that if her children had been born like hers, they would have been given up for adoption. However, Savannah responded with grace and strength, posting on Facebook: “Well, it’s a good thing they weren’t born for you, they were born for me. God knew what He was doing, giving me these little ones to love, no matter what.”
